ACTION PLAN FOR STRENGTHENING CAPACITY FOR EU AFFAIRS AT THE
LOCAL LEVEL
Executive Summary
The Ministry for EU Affairs has actively undertaken many actions at the local level. Positive
results of this work have been a driving force for the development of another project to be
implemented. In this context, “Technical Assistance for Building Capacity for EU Affairs
in the Governorates” (VABpro) was launched in December 2012.
The project was financed within the context of the financial cooperation between Turkey and
the EU. The objective of the project is “to increase service capacity of governorates on EU
affairs in order to fully realize the projects implemented in the EU accession period within the
scope of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance, to follow-up these projects, to enable
that the EU membership process is understood by all segments of the society clearly and
without prejudices.”
One of the most concrete outputs of VAPpro is the “Action Plan for Strengthening
Capacity for EU Affairs at the Local Level”. This Action Plan is a roadmap that will
provide a more systematic and sustainable base for EU related activities carried out by our
Ministry and other relevant public institutions at local level.
The action plan is based on two strategic goals:
“To strengthen the role and coordination of the Ministry for EU Affairs for capacity
building in the management of EU affairs at local level”
“To strengthen the framework governing EU units within Governorates for the
management of EU affairs at the local level”
In line with these strategic goals, a number of targets have been determined. Among these
targets are strengthening cooperation and coordination at the central level, further increasing
the effectiveness of the participation of local actors, strengthening the legal and institutional
bases of the “EU Units within the Governorates” and development of a monitoring and
evaluation framework to follow-up the results of the implementation of the Action Plan. In
order to attain each of these targets, detailed and effective steps for implementation of the
Action Plan have been formulated.
A table summarizing the goals, targets and strategies related to the Action Plan for
Strengthening Capacity on EU Affairs at Local Level is presented below:
1
1.1.
1.2
1.3
2
2.1
Strategic Goal: To strengthen the role and coordination function of the Ministry for
EU Affairs regarding capacity building with reference to govern/administer EU affairs
at the local level
Target 1.1: Cooperation and coordination at the central level will be strengthened to
administer EU affairs at local level.
1.1.1 To improve cooperation and coordination between the Ministry for EU Affairs
and Ministry of Interior to govern EU affairs at the local level.
1.1.2 To improve cooperation and coordination between the Ministry for EU Affairs
and Ministry of Development to govern EU affairs at the local level
1.1.3 To improve cooperation and coordination between the Ministry for EU Affairs
and local administrations unions (UMT and Union of Provincial Services) to govern
EU affairs at the local level.
Target 1.2 Awareness of the process of alignment with EU-related policies and
acquis will be increased at the local level and the participation of the local level
administrations in this process will be further improved.
1.2.1 To improve the coordination capacity of the EU-related units within the
Governorates with the aim of raising awareness of the effects at the local level of
activities which are carried out at the central level for alignment with the EU acquis.
1.2.2 To ensure that actions to increase awareness of the process of alignment with
main EU-related policies and the acquis and further increase participation are
incorporated into the action plans of public institutions in the provinces.
Target 1.3 Scope of the support and content of training provided by the Ministry for
EU Affairs for capacity building to govern EU affairs will be reviewed.
1.3.1 In line with policy priorities and strategic approach of the Ministry for EU
Affairs, to ensure that necessary changes are made regarding the support and content
of training provided by the Ministry to the Governorates to build capacity for EU
affairs.
1.3.2 To ensure that some tasks pertaining to implementation, monitoring and
evaluation of activities are carried outby the EU-related units of Governorates, so that
the Ministry for EU Affairs can develop more macro scale policies for local level in
the EU process and undertakes the functions of guidance and coordination rather than
directly taking action at local level.
1.3.3 To identify examples of good practices among successful EU related activities
carried out at local level and to support the dissemination of good practices.
Strategic Goal 2: To strengthen the framework regulating EU units within
governorates for the management of EU affairs at local level.
Target 2.1 Legal and institutional basis of the EU units within governorates will be
strengthened.
2.1.1 To identify and implement the most appropriate institutional structure for the
short, medium and long term and to adopt the related legislation accordingly in order
to strengthen the legal and institutional framework of the EU units within
governorates.
2.1.2 Recruitment of permanent cadre needed by EU units within governorates,
assignment of expert and qualified staff to this cadre and improvement of rights of
human resources assigned to these units, to consider different options foreseen, to
identify the best human resources assignment methods for the short, medium and long
term and their legal and institutional basis and to ensure that such methods are applied
in the short and medium term.
2.1.3 To eliminate main barriers to creation of resources for co-financing needed by
2.2
2.3
EU units within governorates.
Target 2.2 Capacity and operation of the EU units within governorates will be
strengthened.
2.2.1 To ensure minimum standard and required flexibility in terms of job descriptions
and process in the operation of EU units within governorates.
2.2.2 To ensure that all public institutions and agencies in the relevant province are
aware of the job description and activity field of EU units within governorates.
2.2.3 To develop mechanisms in order to ensure that there is regular and continuous
exchange of information and experience among EU units within governorates.
Effectiveness of EU Harmonisation, Consultation and Steering Boards (EU HCSC)
will be enhanced.
2.3.1 To review job description of the Boards in the light of problems stemming from
the structure and operation of the Boards and to ensure that improvements are
introduced in order to enhance the effectiveness of the Boards in practice.
2.3.2 To take actions in order to ensure that EU HCSC contributes to the creation of
positive public opinion in line with EU Communication Strategy and to encourage
more effective engagement of provincial stakeholders in EU membership process.
2.3.3 To strengthen the role of EU HCSC in the determination of education and
capacity building needs in relation to EU affairs at local level and in the fulfilment of
such needs.
Target 2.4: To ensure that the EU funds are used efficiently at local level
2.4.1 In the coordination of EU units within governorates, to support institutional capacity
building of public and private institutions, local administrations, non-governmental
organizations, universities, occupational organizations etc. at local level on work
related to EU acquis and the utilisation of EU financial resources
2.4.2 To strengthen the coordination between the EU units within governorates and the other
Ministries in implementation of the EU funded projects in addition to the projects
implemented by the Ministry for EU Affairs.
2.4.3 To undertake necessary work in coordination with relevant public institutions in order
to prepare a comprehensive inventory of the EU funds used in provinces.
Target 2.5: Coordination and cooperation between EU units within governorates and the
local administrations will be strengthened.
2.5.1 To strengthen coordination and cooperation between the EU units within governorates
and the local administrations.
2.5.2 To ensure coordination and cooperation between EU units within governorates and
development agencies regarding EU affairs.
2.5.3 To ensure that capacities of relevant stakeholders are utilised in order to increase
efficiency in EU affairs at provincial level by strengthening cooperation and
coordination between EU units within governorates and other relevant stakeholders
(private sector institutions, universities, professional chambers, non-governmental
organizations and city councils)
Target 2.6: Visibility and communication activities on EU affairs will be strengthened at the
local level
2.6.1 To strengthen communication activities of EU units within governorates in order to
promote Turkey EU Communication Strategy at local level better and extensively and
to increase awareness of provincial stakeholders on EU affairs
2.6.2 To organize local events which will increase knowledge and awareness level of all
segments of society regarding various aspects of EU membership process and to
strengthen ownership
Target 2.7: A monitoring and evaluation framework will be developed for monitoring the
implementation results of the Action Plan
2.7.1 To measure regularly the implementation results in comparison with the strategic goals
and targets set in the Action Plan and to update the Action Plan and implementation
plan after evaluating compatibility and consistency of implementation results with the
goals and targets.
In the following sections of the Action Plan, the activities that are required to be implemented
within the framework of the mentioned goals, targets and strategies are presented in detail.
The complementary sections of the document, the “Current Situation Analysis” and the
“Monitoring and Evaluation Framework” are enclosed as Annexes.